Anyone using a portable generator?? If so what kind are you using??What size is good?? We are wanting to get one and not sure what to get. We want one that we can use a small heater in the truck so we dont have to idle in cold weather.

TIA
tootie

 

If you just want heat, try a bunk heater that runs off your fuel tank. alot better on fuel and a heck of alot quiter.


http://www.espar.com/

 

a good inverter can run a tv nukerwaze ect,
if your thinking of heat look at buying yourslef a wabasco bunk heater.

 

try honda.com go to power tools check out their generators. kind of expensive but their smal and fuel efficient. a friend of mine has a dealer that has 4000w generators for like 1200 $ and eats up about 3 to 4 galons in 10 hours but still have to get a hold of my budy to see more info on it.

 

For your purposes, I would recommend a 3000 watt generator. Electric heaters put a considerable load on the gen, also you might want to run a few other appliances. 3000 watts would even run an RV-type roof air conditioner, I have seen them mounted on road tractors alot.

Honda and Yamaha make quiet generators that are expensive. "Contractor grade" generators like Coleman, Generac, Craftsman, etc. are much cheaper but loud enough to bother those around you. A happy medium that many RV'ers have found is a brand called Champion. There is a LONG thread on an Rv forum about these types of gens here: http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fu...d/15131645.cfm

The Champion 3500W gen that most of us prefer can be bought at many Tractor Supply Stores and Cabelas stores, but they can be found cheaper on this website for partsamerica.com :
http://www.partsamerica.com/ProductL...For=Generators

Scroll down to the yellow generator Champion part # 46540, that's the one many of us like, 3500 watts. This gen is alot quieter than the loud brands, but not quite as quiet as a Honda or Yamaha. Remember that most portable gens use a little oil and will shut down if the get a little low, so check it frequently. Also you know that you will have to have a source for gasoline, obviously most truckstops sell gas. Be sure you buy a gen that has a large enough fuel tank to get you through the night, some smaller gens of 1000-2000 watts won't hold enough fuel and might not produce enough power for your needs. A typical 3000 gen will weigh around 80-100 pounds. Here is a link to Champion's own website:
http://www.cpeauto.com/generators.htm

 

Thanks for the advice. I will check out the links and the Honda and Yamaha generators.

tootie

 

I have used the small Honda Generator and I cannot say enough about how efficient and quiet the lil thing is. When you talk about an apu running about 10 grand, a grand for a GOOD Honda generator does seem that much. The Honda is so quiet you can hardly hear it running ten feet from you. Literally!

 

You might want to check into ESPAR-I had that for bunk heating and it was perfect. They now have ESPAR for both heating and cooling. They run off of your fuel but is VERY efficient.

 

Take a look at this-should give you some ideas

http://roundtable.truck.net/viewtopi...&highlight=apu

 

My system is:

1.(3) Kyocera KC-130 panels (26" X 56" 7.39 amps each)
(1) Go Power GPR-25 charge controller (25 amp capacity with digital volt/amp readout.
8 deep cycle batteries to store the power.
(This system allows me to run almost indefinitely, as long as I use the webasto bunk/block heater system for heat)
RV style A/C unit with a heat strip.
A base model inverter for the large appliances, and a pure sine wave inverter for the delicate electronics.

2. A back up 65 amp alternator that runs off the engine to help charge the batteries, if the sun refuses to come out for 2 or more days.

3.1,500 watt gas genny (very quiet honda) to help boost the batteries if I am sitting and don't want to run the truck engine.

This is what I can remember, I have the spec's for the whole system at home. I had the system spec'ed for the ability to stay self powered for up an indefinite amount of time,(cause I'm a freak about that,..its the survivalist in me,..LOL)
I have been able so far to stay parked for 3 days without having to run my main engine, in the middle of summer and have the sleeper at 65 degrees.
For hot water I just had a on demand unit that runs off a small RV propane tank (it will heat 950 gallons with only a tank the size of a gas grill tank). I'll let you know how that works,..or doesn't

I am debating on putting an LP gas genny in place of the gasoline unit, but the smallest they sell is a 2800 watt, and the fuel consumption is higher than I like, and the honda is so quiet, I can barely tell when its on.
(its a pain sometimes to have 3 types of fuel on board)

Believe it or not, this whole system (power, not hot water) was less $$ than the cheapest APU, and so far I have used it for 2 years, and only had to replace the aux. alternator. (the bracket cracked and the unit shredded a belt and pieces went into the alternator).

It weighs in at around 900lbs, I could lighten it up by removing a couple of batteries, but I will probably just go with the super singles this summer, because my tires are about ready to be replaced.

The great part is when I an sitting for a couple of days, and another driver will ask me what kind of APU I have, because "it's so quiet".
The panels are on my flat roof, and the A/C unit is a basement model RV, so even though the side boxes on my truck are full to the limit, you really can't tell what is there.